Security Tips

Tips to increase home security

Long gone are the days when having one simple lock on a front door constitutes a substantial measure of protection.

Some people avoid taking security measures because they believe that nothing can stop a determined burglar from gaining entry, or they believe that they do not own anything worth stealing. However, in many cases burglars don’t break into a building because they know certain items are inside, but rather because the building is easy to enter. Unless a building has been targeted by a highly professional criminal, simple and inexpensive measures can be taken to greatly reduce the risk of an unlawful break-in. Nearly everyone owns something a burglar will consider worth stealing.

However, protection of property is not the only reason for taking security measures, danger to persons inside the building is an ever greater consideration. If anyone is inside a building when a burglary occurs, they could be attacked or even killed. And in many cases burglars cause a lot of damage to a property.

Tips to make your home more secure

Here are some simple ideas to make your house more secure and less inviting:

Who has keys to your new home? Please consider replacing all external door locks when you move into your new home.

Leave your outside lights on at night. If your neighbourhood is dimly lit, ask your local authorities to add streetlights or replace existing bulbs with ones of higher wattage

Install peepholes with magnifying lenses on your doors. This lets you see who’s at your door – without opening it

Never leave notes on your door (i.e. for delivery man or members of family). This includes even when you’re at home

Tune the stereo or TV to your favourite station when you leave the house. To a burglar it means that someone’s home.

Team up with your neighbours and form a neighbourhood watch program. Your local police can help you get started

Ask a neighbour to collect newspapers and mail when you’re away. If you’ll be gone for an extended period, hire someone to take care of your lawn or even to house sit. Most important, make sure your neighbours know when you will leave and when you will return.

Permanently mark your valuables to make it easier for the police to return them to you if they are stolen. National Insurance numbers and driver’s license numbers work best. Keep a record of marked objects

Park an additional car in your driveway or ask a neighbour to park there when away for an overnight trip. It gives the appearance that someone’s always home and prevents burglars from backing a van into the drive for easy loading

If you leave a spare key outside, be creative. Burglars routinely check under flowerpots and welcome mats and on window ledges.

Make sure to cut your grass before going on holiday, if your away for a while ask a neighbour to cut it for you while you are away.

Thorny plants are a good deterrent and may be used either as hedges or at specific risk points. A climbing rose will not only cover an unsightly soil pipe, it will also reduce the risk of a thief climbing it.

Keep your sheds and outbuildings locked; burglars may use your tools to gain access to your house

Cancel your milk and paper deliveries if you are going on holiday and ask a neighbour to remove any post or newspapers left showing in your letterbox

More Security Articles

Empire Locksmiths offer a free security check for your home, but there’s a lot of information readily available to help you gain some knowledge on how best to secure your home, and what to do in cases where action needs to be taken. Below you’ll find selected articles from our blog.

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